The Korean War captured a US military general.

The American Major General commanding the 24th Infantry Division probably never expected that one day he would be captured by the enemy and held captive until the end of the war.

It all started when North Korea invaded the South Korean capital, Seoul, and marched like a storm to the city of Taejon (Daejon), a major transportation hub where the US 24th Infantry Division and a small number of South Korean soldiers were stationed.

Battle between North Korean and US troops in Taejon city. Illustration photo.

» Looking back at the US-Korean war 57 years ago

General William F. Dean was then ordered to protect Taejon at all costs, so that the United Nations troops would have time to concentrate their forces and land from the southern coast.

About 11,400 soldiers were then facing 17,600 North Korean troops and 50 tanks. According to the plan, two North Korean infantry divisions, supported by the 105th Armored Division, would attack Taejon simultaneously from three directions.

Decisive Battle of Taejon

The US military at that time could not stop the stormy advance of North Korea.

On the morning of July 14, fighting began when US soldiers discovered North Korean T-34 tanks crossing the river, about 3km from Taejon.

The first fierce attack by tanks and artillery defeated the American forces entrenched on the outer perimeter, capturing an important US military outpost.

By the evening of the same day, the US 34th Infantry Regiment with about 3,000 men tried to counterattack but was returned by machine guns and firepower captured by North Korean soldiers.

Major General William F. Dean informed headquarters and requested support aircraft to completely destroy the outpost after the enemy had captured it.

The second attack began on July 16, 1950, and after only three days, the North Korean army established a siege around the city of Taejon.

Major General William F. Dean ordered the remaining troops of the 24th Division to defend Taejon at all costs. Fierce fighting raged from house to house, from street to street.

At one point, the US military commander himself fought alongside the soldiers, attacking a North Korean tank with grenades at close range.

By July 20, 1950, the North Korean army had reached Taejon airport and General William F. Dean had to accept defeat.

He ordered his soldiers to cut a bloody path to withdraw. On the way out of Taejon, the 24th Infantry Division was heavily blocked by enemy machine guns and mortars.

At that crucial moment, the jeep carrying Major General William F. Dean turned in another direction in the hope of escaping the encirclement of the North Korean army.

The American general joined a group of soldiers fleeing south at night to avoid detection. But an incident occurred when Mr. Dean went looking for water and fell into a ravine.

Major General Dean was unconscious and had a broken shoulder. Unable to find Dean, the American soldiers believed the major general was dead. They returned to the Pusan ​​Line on July 23 without their commander.

Capture of US military general

Major General William F. Dean speaks after his release.

The next morning, Major General Dean woke up to find that the North Koreans had taken control of the area. At one point, he was accompanied by an American soldier. But the soldier was captured by the North Koreans, and he had to continue on alone.

For the next 36 days, Major General Dean walked the Korean countryside, eating everything he saw on the road and sometimes with the help of locals. He lost 27kg in just one month.

The North Korean army captured the American major general on August 25, 1950. Two North Korean soldiers saw that he looked like he was about to die, so they took him back to the barracks.

The North Korean soldiers were initially unaware that they had captured an army major general, commander of the 24th Infantry Division.

It was not until 1951 that North Korea learned Major General Dean's true identity and brought him in for interrogation.

Mr. Dean later said that he did not reveal any information and even tried to commit suicide. North Korea held the highest-ranking American general they had ever captured alive until the armistice was signed by both sides.

Major General Dean himself received the prestigious Medal of Honor. But there was also criticism that he failed to protect the base and it fell into enemy hands.

At the end of the Battle of Taejon, the US Army suffered 922 casualties, 228 wounded, and 2,400 missing. North Korean losses were estimated at 3,000 men and 20 tanks.

Synthesis by Dang Nguyen/danviet